Magnesium . com - Data Bank SAFE HANDLING OF MAGNESIUM SAFE HANDLING OF MAGNESIUM Magnesium is a combustible metal, however, it can be melted and processed without incident by following well developed safety practices. In certain forms, like a thin ribbon, magnesium ignites quite easily. In solid forms, such as magnesium ingots, combustion is difficult to get started. Magnesium is an excellent conductor of heat, and, as a practical matter, the entire piece must be brought to a temperature near the melting point before ignition will occur. Normally, this will not occur unless the solid magnesium piece is surrounded by a general conflagration from other sources. Care must be exercised with magnesium when it is: � in a molten state; � in a finely divided form, such as chips, granules, or powder; � involved in a general conflagration. Molten magnesium Safety clothing and equipment Molten magnesium, like any other substance at 600 ºC, will cause severe burns upon contact with your skin. Those who work around molten magnesium must wear adequate protective clothing and equipment. This includes: � safety glasses; � hard hat with safety shield; � fire retardant clothing; � insulated gauntlet gloves.

All safety clothing and equipment should be tested to ensure that the protection is adequate. First aid provisions should include fire blankets and safety showers. All personal protective equipment should meet applicable statutory codes. Protection of the melt Molten magnesium will ignite and burn when exposed to air, so it must be protected during the melting operations. The traditional method was a cover of chloride salts that fluidized, excluding air contact at the surface. Common practice today, although not universal, is to use a protective gas, such as sulfur hexafluoride, in very low concentrations with air � or air and carbon dioxide. Sulfur hexafluoride, or SF6, forms a film on the melt surface, which prevents excessive oxidation. Gas feeding system The gas feeding system should be designed to prevent high concentrations of sulfur hexafluoride over the melt because it will severely corrode the steel cover and pot. The corrosion product can react with molten magnesium and could cause an explosion. The system design should ensure minimal effect from air flow disturbing the gas blanket. Fuel supply lines should have combustion safety controls and remote shut offs.

Prevent contact with water Automatic sprinklers should not be installed over melting operations, heat treating furnaces, or in areas where magnesium in a finely divided form is produced or stored. If water comes into contact with any molten magnesium, whether it is in the foundry furnace or a puddle in a burning building, there could be an explosion. The water will expand to 1,000 times its original volume and, in so doing, may throw molten metal a considerable distance. In addition, magnesium's great affinity for oxygen will dissociate the water, releasing flammable hydrogen which can be explosive when mixed with air. Pre-heat ingots and tools Any material, such as ingots or tools, that are introduced into molten magnesium must be pre-heated well above 100 ºC to drive off all moisture or other volatiles. Any cold surface should be suspected of containing moisture condensed from the atmosphere. Keep melting pot clean Molten magnesium can react exothermically with iron oxide in a thermite reaction which generates temperatures in excess of 2200 ºC and a large amount of heat.

Since most magnesium melting pots are made of steel, it is extremely important to keep the inside of the pot clean and free of scale. Likewise, scale should be removed regularly from the furnace to prevent a reaction with molten magnesium in the event of a pot failure. The refractories used for the furnace should be high alumina or magnesia since molten magnesium can react violently with even small amounts of silica which may be present in ceramic materials. Run-out pans should be provided in the event of a pot failure and they should be kept clean and free of moisture and scale at all times. Fire extinguishing materials Dry, Class D fire extinguishing materials, such as G-1 powder and foundry flux, should always be kept nearby. Foundry structure Magnesium foundry structures should be built with non-combustible materials and the floors around melting operations should be hard burned or vitreous paving block. The heat from molten magnesium can release the water of hydration in concrete which will cause it to spall, sometimes explosively. Summary: molten magnesium While handling of molten magnesium requires care and certain precautions, many producers and foundries worldwide routinely melt and process thousands of tons each year without incident by strictly adhering to well proven safety practices.

Finely divided forms Magnesium in finely divided form is readily ignitable and can ignite spontaneously in the presence of water or cutting fluids containing fatty acids. Hydrogen will also be produced, introducing an explosion hazard in addition to fire. Airborne magnesium dust will burn with explosive violence if ignited in the critical air-dust ratio. Smoking and the use of open flame or electrical welding must be prohibited in areas where magnesium is being machined, sawed, or ground. All electrical connections and motors must be explosion proof. Non-sparking conductive tools must be used where magnesium dust may be present. Dust collector system Grinding dust should be captured in a wet dust collector system that is dedicated to magnesium only. The entire system should be grounded and the power supply to the exhaust fan and the liquid level controller should be inter-locked. The system should be designed to avoid dry dust accumulation at any point before being converted to sludge, and avoid dry dust containing any high speed moving parts. The collector must also be designed so that hydrogen generated in the sludge is vented at all times, even in the event of a power failure. No magnesium should be ground that has a chromated surface or contains steel inserts because both can spark.

Sparks from any source can ignite the grinding dust and the resulting fire can travel through the entire system. Sludge from the liquid separators should be removed at least daily and transported to the disposal site or staging area in covered and vented steel drums. Machining magnesium Machining of magnesium requires less power than any of the other commonly used metals, allowing for maximum speeds and feeds that produce large chips. Cutting tools should be kept sharp and never allowed to ride on the metal without cutting. Dull tools and idling could produce enough heat to ignite the turnings. Magnesium storage and transportation Magnesium in any product form should be stored at ground level in a well drained area where water will not puddle. Preferred storage for ingots and parts is a single level, non-combustible building, but this may not be practical in all cases. If stored with other combustible materials, the National Fire Protection Association recommends the following volumes of magnesium: � parts weighing 11 kg or more: limit to 36 cubic meters; � parts weighing less than 11 kg: limit to 28 cubic meters.

Automatic sprinklers recommended Unlike areas where molten metal is present, automatic sprinkler systems are strongly recommended in ingot or parts storage areas since their operation may prevent the magnesium from becoming involved in a fire originating in nearby combustible materials. Aisles should be wide enough to permit effective use of equipment by fire fighters. Powder, chips, granules, and turnings Dry magnesium powder, chips, granules, and turnings should be stored in tightly sealed, non-combustible containers such as steel drums that are well separated from other combustible materials. The use of automatic sprinklers in those areas should be prohibited. Wet magnesium turnings, fines, or sludge should be kept under water in a covered and vented non-combustible container and stored outdoors. When damp magnesium is exposed to air, it will generate heat which accelerates the evaporation and will eventually result in ignition. Containers should never be stacked, and ignition sources should be kept away from the vent. Transporting magnesium Most industrialized nations classify particulate magnesium as "hazardous" material which must be regulated when transported by air, rail, highway, or water. The regulations usually cover packaging, shipping documents, labeling, and placarding.

Be sure to check your country for compliance, or, if shipping internationally, secure a copy of the United Nations' publication, "Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods." If there is a fire Magnesium fires are spectacular because they give off a bright light and billowing clouds of white smoke. The white smoke is magnesium oxide which, by itself, is non-toxic, but inhalation should be avoided since excessive amounts can produce metal fume fever symptoms. One must also recognize the possibility that toxic fumes from other sources could be in the smoke. Your best chance to control any fire is to catch it while it is young, and magnesium is no exception. Fires in dry magnesium particulate will burn rather slowly and evenly, but can flare up quickly if disturbed � or if moisture or cutting oils are present. Smothering agents Magnesium burns by direct oxidation and so the only way to control a magnesium fire is to "smother" it with dry, air-excluding agents � or let it burn to extinction. Faced with a fire that is out of control, firefighters may have to resort to damage control of adjacent structures.

Suitable "smothering agents" for magnesium fires are: � Dry G-1 Powder; � certain dry chemicals containing mono or diammonium phosphate; � sand. The latest agent added to the product line of safety products by the TLI Group for the fire protection industry, changes the way fires can now be safely extinguished. Now high temperature fires can be extinguished in any type of weather. No longer does the fire fighter have to stand within five to eight feet of a high temperature fire in order to extinguish it. The FEM-12 SC extinguisher allows the fire fighter a range of 30 to 40 feet from the source of the fire. The FEM-12 SC also presents an agent that is an environmentally safe alternative for the industry. In addition, the fire fighter no longer has to worry about breathing clouds of dust. FEM-12 SC can now extinguish those high temperature vertical fires safely, and quickly. There is little threat of the material reigniting. Also, the fire fighter no longer has to stand over the fire for over 30 minutes to see if it is going to reignite after applying a dry powder agent.

The fire fighter can now move on without worry and extinguish other areas of concern. Applications include metal fires, such as magnesium and titanium used in aircraft brake assemblies and landing gear components. Other applications include rubber tires, aircraft engines, magnesium rims; and other structural components of the aircraft such as fiber glass, composite materials, and composite materials with honeycomb aluminum. The extinguishing elements of the FEM-12 SC work to reduce high temperature fires rapidly, and quickly. It coats the burning material to help in preventing reignition. Because it is a liquid vertical fires can now be successfully fought where previously dry powder was ineffective. This material has passed the U.S Federal Aviation Administrations testing requirements for aquatic toxicity (American Society for Testing and Materials International - ASTM #E 729-96 reapproved 2002, with range finding test according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and American National Standards Institute - ANSI/UL 711 Rating and Testing of Fire Extinguishing Section 10.2 and 10.2.28.) These tests where conducted by the United States Air Force Research Laboratory for the U.S. FAA.

For further information go to or Google �tn06/26� to see a white paper jointly issued by the United States FAA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. Employee training & response team If you are manufacturing, processing, or storing magnesium, then you must train all operating personnel on safe procedures and have a skilled in-house emergency team. There is a legal requirement in a number of countries that you must notify your local fire department if you are processing or storing magnesium and a joint plan developed for emergency response. This should be done regardless of any legal requirements. Summary Magnesium will burn, particularly in a molten state or in finely divided forms. Magnesium can react with water to produce hydrogen, resulting in a fire or explosion. However, with proper safeguards, you can prevent fires or explosions. The use of magnesium is growing rapidly on a worldwide basis and it is a fact that millions of tons of magnesium have been melted and processed without incident by following well developed safety practices. How do flares and flare guns work? - Explain that Stuff Tweet by Chris Woodford . Last updated: September 16, 2016.

You're out in a boat with a very experienced sailor friend when he starts feeling ill, then collapses on the deck and passes out. You don't know enough to pilot the boat yourself or even how to operate the radio , but there are some flares onboard and instructions showing you how to fire them. You can see there are other boats far off in the distance so you figure it's worth a try. You fire off a flare and it shoots skyward, blazing red high above you. Then you fire off a second one to be sure. Within minutes, the boats are coming toward you and you breathe a sigh of relief; you know help is on its way. Thank heavens for flares, which have saved countless lives at sea. They're fantastically simple signaling devices similar to fireworks , but they're designed to communicate a much more direct message in an emergency. Have you ever wondered what they're made of and how they work? Let's take a closer look! Photo: Flare guns like this are used to fire distress signals and warnings at sea. Photo by Joshua Wayne LeGrand courtesy of US Navy . What is a flare? A flare is a tube packed with explosive chemicals that burn very brightly or give off smoke, usually to attract attention in an emergency.

The two main kinds are handheld flares (which operate on the ground) and rocket flares (which are fired into the air). Handheld flares Handheld flares also come in two kinds. Signal flares burn with a bright red light as you hold them, while smoke flares (also called smoke signals) are designed to be held in the hand, placed on the ground, or dropped overboard into the sea to give off huge plumes of colorful (generally orange or red) smoke. Flares like this are typically visible up to about 5km (3 miles) away for anything from 30 seconds to several minutes. Since smoke doesn't generate light, smoke flares are useful only in daylight. Photo: Right: Handheld smoke flakes: Top photo: A group of Minnesota Air National Guardsmen ignite MK-13 flares during survival training. Note that they're wearing gloves to protect against the heat the flares give off. Photo by Erik Gudmundson courtesy of US Air Force . Bottom photo: Here, a smoke flare canister is being used to signal troop positions to a helicopter during a search-and-rescue survival exercise.

You can just see the flare on the bottom left (it's the white tube with orange ends). Photo by Brandt Smith courtesy of US Air Force and US Navy . Rocket flares Rocket flares are bright enough to work in daytime or night. They're usually fired high in the air so they can be seen from much greater distances than handheld flares (up to 40km/25 miles or so in good visibility). The simplest ones are like fireworks, with two "stages" (separate explosive burning sections) and are entirely self-contained. You hit them on the base (or bang them on the ground or the deck of a ship) to strike an explosive percussion cap. This triggers the first stage, which propels the inner part of the flare into the air for several seconds. At that point, when the rocket has reached a height of maybe 100m (300ft) or so, the second stage ignites and the flare explodes with an intensely bright red or orange light. Some flares release red stars.

Another kind of rocket flare is fired from a specially designed flare gun or Very pistol.These flares are aluminum tubes about 3cm (just over an inch) in diameter and 30cm (12inches) or so long. When they're fired, they shoot rapidly to a height of about 300m (1000ft). At that point, they explode with a loud bang and release a brightly burning flare suspended from a small parachute that drifts very slowly downward, maximizing the amount of time for which it can be seen. Photo: Left: Rocket flares are packaged in aluminum canisters like this. Right: Firing a flare from the deck of a ship. Both photos by Joshua Wayne LeGrand courtesy of US Navy. Original photos are here and here . The Very pistol is named for American naval officer Edward Very, credited with inventing it 1877. There's some controversy over whether the idea was actually conceived by another naval officer, Henry H. Coston, who received a similar patent a few months later and was prevented from filing sooner by his own military duties.

Very's 1877 patent describes a fairly simple signal cartridge with a powder charge at the bottom and then some chemicals packed above "of such materials as will cause it to burn with a flame of any desired color." It was designed to soar to a height of roughly 90m (300ft) so it could be seen from at least 5km (3 miles) away. Coston's patent (illustrated in the box below) is quite a bit more elaborate and describes a cartridge that can fire multiple colors in a particular sequence, thus signaling a variety of different codes. How a flare gun works Flare guns fire cartridges packed with colorful chemicals. These two illustrations are patent artworks for a World War II model flare gun, invented in 1942 by John R. Smith for the Harrington & Richardson company and patented in 1944, and Henry Coston's much earlier (1877) flare cartridge. The gun As you can see, the gun itself looks much like an ordinary handgun and the basic operation is very similar: Trigger: As in a conventional gun, you simply pull your finger back to release the hammer. Hammer: Pivots around a central pin.

It's called a hammer because that's how it works: like a conventional hammer driving a nail into wood, it uses a relatively large mass pushing forward onto a relatively small mass (the firing pin), so it magnifies force. Firing pin: Strikes the back of the flare and causes it to explode and shoot off down the barrel. Barrel: Flare guns don't need to fire the same way as conventional firearms (they fire bigger projectiles, don't need to send them so far, and don't need to fire as accurately), and they often have a smooth barrel instead of the rifled (grooved) barrel that you'd find on a conventional gun (which spins bullets and makes them fire more accurately). Flare gun barrels are also wider than those in a conventional gun; in other words, the caliber (internal diameter of the barrel) is greater. A typical flare gun caliber is 26–30mm (1–2 inches), which is about 5 times wider than a .22 rifle (~5.5–5.7mm). Shell extractor mechanism: The barrel can be pivoted for loading/unloading. Main spring: Stores energy to power the hammer toward the firing pin.

The cartridge Coston's cartridge has multiple layers of gunpowder (blue), a central fuse (yellow), various chemicals in between that burn to give the colors green (labeled D, bottom), white (F, center), and red (H, top), and some incombustible layers (F and G) in between that keep the signals separate. As you can see from Coston's picture on the right, the three colored signals fire separately, blasting a coded message into the sky. This is a more sophisticated design than Edward Very's cartridge, which contained only one powder charge and only enough chemical to fire a single color. Sea Kayaker Magazine's Handbook of Safety and Rescue by Doug Alderson and Michael Pardy. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2003. For younger readers Guns and Special Weapons: Gun Education and Safety by Brian Kevin. ABDO, 2012. A 34-page introduction to ordinary and unusual weapons (including flare guns and tranquilizer darts), geared to younger readers. Articles Electronic vs. Traditional Flares by Earl MacKenzie. Cruising World, October 22, 2014. Explores the advantages and drawbacks of modern electronic laser flasers.

Patents Modern US Patent: 7,988,801 B2: Perchlorate-free green signal flare composition by Robert G. Shortridge et al, US Navy. This is a detailed technical account that explains the chemical ingredients of traditional flares and how a new generation of environmentally friendly versions have modified them to do away with perchlorates. There are also patents from the same team covering perchlorate-free red flares and yellow flares . Historic US Patent: 190,263: Improvement in signal cartridges by Edward Very. May 1, 1877. The original Very flare patent covers the cartridge fired from a flare gun, not the gun itself. Note that there are many OCR errors in Google's scan, and you'll need to download the PDF to read it properly. US Patent: 197,339: Improvement in signal cartridges by Henry Coston. November 20, 1877. A rival to Very's famous design, Coston's may well have been invented first. Sponsored links If you liked this article...

Creating Flame Colors Creating Flame Colors Creating Flame Colors For a fun and colorful campfire or fireplace display, you can soak pine cones, wood chips or newspaper-rolls in chemical solutions prior to burning. Whether for personal use or as a club/group project, we indicate what to do and what to use to create these flame displays. Project 1: Campfire or Fireplace Flame Colors Start by soaking dry pine cones, wood chips, or even rolled up newspapers in specially prepared chemical solutions. See the list below for chemicals that produce colored effects when burned. These chemical products shows the flame colors produced in PROJECT ONE. Please click through for current pricing. Flame Color Sodium carbonate, 500g NC-1687 The Procedure To treat your dried material, mix about one pound (454g) of chemical per gallon of water in a plastic container. An empty five-gallon pail is ideal. Avoid metal containers because some chemicals may react and damage the container. Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when handling chemicals. Work outside or in an appropriate work area. Some chemicals may stain your work surface. Work with one batch of chemicals at a time to achieve the brightest colors. Dull colors could result if fuel is soaked in different solutions.

A day of soaking should give the chemicals time to soak into the wood. Afterwards, lift and drain over the pail and spread on newspaper to dry. The newspaper can also be burned by rolling and wrapping tightly to form "logs". Burn the treated material in a well-ventilated fireplace. Wait till your fire has burned down to some coals and low flame, then add the treated material to see the best show of colors. Another variation for creating fireplace colors is to make wax cakes containing chemicals. Start by melting paraffin (from candle stubs or from blocks of canning wax from the grocery store) in a double boiler. Do not melt over an open flame or it may ignite. Stir in one or two tablespoons of the recommended dry chemical. Let it cool, but while it is still liquid, pour the wax into small paper cake cups. When these have set they can be placed into a fireplace just like the treated pine cones described above. For longer burning pine cones or to make colorful fire starters, melt paraffin wax as above. Dip pine cones in the wax then sprinkle with one of the listed chemicals before the wax completely sets.

Or, try coating dry pine cones in white glue and sprinkling them with chemicals to produce a firestarter that burns brightly with color. Warning Avoid permanganates, nitrates and chlorates. These produce harmful byproducts when burned. Project 2: Flame Color Tests Using Metal Salts. You can create a variety of colored flames by burning a small amount of different metal salts in a fire. In the lab, use a Bunsen burner or propane torch. The Procedure Some metals will burn with a characteristic flame color. To perform a flame test a powdered sample of chemical ( see list below ) is placed onto a platinum or Nichrome wire loop and suspended in a Bunsen burner (or propane torch) flame. It is important to first clean the wire loop in the flame so no contaminating dust interferes with the true color of the test sample flame. What Is Happening? When a metal or metal salt is burned, the input of thermal energy raises the electrons in the metal atom to a higher energy state. These electrons cannot remain in this excited state for too long and will emit energy in the form of light to return to the more stable, grounded state. It is this light we see when a metal atom is burned in a flame.

Each metal has a characteristic flame color which has been found to be useful in identifying minerals. These chemical products shows the flame colors produced in PROJECT TWO. Please click through for current pricing. Flame Color Magnesium Illumination Flares - Pyrotechnics Compositions - APC Forum Magnesium Illumination Flares Started by Miech , Nov 17 2008 11:41 AM Please log in to reply 11 replies to this topic Gender:Male Posted 17 November 2008 - 11:41 AM I recently got these compositions from someone I spoke on msn. I've tested the white and red composition with great succes sofar, and expect the yellow one to be even better from what I've heard.

Name of composition: Magnesium illumination flare Composition Type: Flare Creator: unknown, I believe they are from rec.pyrotechnics The Compositions: 14.6% PVC 3.0% Binder* *Some such binders include: antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide, boric acid/ sodium borate, ammonium fluoroborate, alumina hydrates, molybdenum oxides, zink borate, polyvinyl bromide, hexabromocyclododecane, pentabromobifenyl oxide, octabromobifenyl oxide, decabromobifenyl oxide etc. Any Precautions/Incompatabilities: In loose state these compositions are some kind of very bright and sensitive flash. Precautions as usual when working with flash powder should be taken therefore. The magnesium must be coated with either linseed oil or another suitable agent to prevent spontaneous combustion due to a nitrate/magnesium reaction. Magnesium is likely to react with nitrates, so keep the composition dry and do never bind with water. Do not mix or let in contact with ammonium compounds, or it will form hygroscopic ammonium nitrate.

Do not look into the flame when burning, this may damage your reticula permanently! Precedure/Preparation:Drie the oxidators in an oven at 110 degrees Celsius for about an hour. Then mix the oxidators, PVC, asphaltum and/or colorants together, for example in a mortar and pestle. Then add the magnesium, and mix using the diaper method (preferred) or another low friction way of mixing. Then bind using a water free solvent, and either press into tubes or make into pumped stars. Depending on solvent you might have to work very quick. Prime very well with a very hot prime composition. I used PVC and acetone to bind these compositions, but parlon, red gum and such probably work as well. Try to avoid closing in by using a not too volatile solvent. Edit: I found out today these compositions are used by the US Navy. It might say something I guess .

Location:injomawmaw Posted 14 August 2012 - 12:55 AM Binder**Some such binders include: antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide, boric acid/ sodium borate, ammonium fluoroborate, alumina hydrates, molybdenum oxides, zink borate, polyvinyl bromide, hexabromocyclododecane, pentabromobifenyl oxide, octabromobifenyl oxide, decabromobifenyl oxide etc ....... Then bind using a water free solvent, and either press into tubes or make into pumped stars. Depending on solvent you might have to work very quick. Prime very well with a very hot prime composition. I used PVC and acetone to bind these compositions, but parlon, red gum and such probably work as well. Try to avoid closing in by using a not too volatile solvent.Edit: I found out today these compositions are used by the US Navy. It might say something I guess . We will all forget how long it took you to do it, but we will remember how well you did it.

Flares OLIN 12 Guage Flare Burn Time: 5 - 6 seconds Altitude is approximately 80 meters. Colors: Red and white. Visible from a distance of approximately 2kms by day and 20kms by night. For use with the OLIN R931 and R932 Pistols, or a 12 Red Plastic Pencil Flares Burn Time: 6 seconds Altitude is approximately 60 meters. Red color only. Visible from a distance of approximately 2km by day and 20 kms by night. WARNING: Plastic case flares should not be used in extreme cold conditions for the Multi Color Plastic Flares Burning time: 6 seconds Altitude is approximately 60 meters. Red, Green, and White. 9 cartridges per package. Visible from a distance of approximately 2km by day and 20kms by night. WARNING: Plastic case flares should not be use 12 Guage Signal Flares Burning Time: 5 - 7 seconds Altitude is approximately 80 meters. Visible from a distance of approximately 2km by day and 20kms by night. Red, Green and White.

For use with Heckler & Koch Signal Pistol or a 12 guage shotgun. 6 ca 4 Calibre Red Flares - Aluminum Case Burn Time: 5 - 7 seconds. Altitude is approximately 120 meters. Visible from a distance of approximately 4km by day and 40kms by night. For use in Heckler & Koch Signal Pistol (P2A1) Catalog 4 Calibre Green Flares - Plastic Case Burn Time: 5 - 7 seconds. Altitude is approximately 120 meters. Visible from a distance of approximately 4km by day and 40 kms by night. For use in Heckler & Koch Signal Pistol (P2A1). 10 cartridges per box. Cata Page: 1 Signal Flares Inc. does not export outside of Canada. Signal Flares cannot ship to residential addresses. In the event of improper handling of any weapon or fireworks, Signal Flares Inc. will assume no liability what so ever, and will make no indemnification payments. The users themselves are liable for any damage or injury.

Web Development by: TyFactor.com How to Make a Signal Flare: 11 Steps - wikiHow Signal flare #2 1 Mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 3/4 cup potassium nitrate in a shakeable container or jar. Shake and turn the container to allow the material to be thoroughly mixed. 2 Light a propane camp stove in a safe, outdoor location. Crank the flame down to a low level. Most propane stoves will produce a 1/4-inch high flame at this level. 3 Place the flare mixture in a heavy skillet and heat it slowly. Stir the mixture constantly. As the flare gum heats it will take on the consistency of melted plastic or chewed gum. Once the material gets to a consistency that allows it to be rolled over in the skillet, it is done. 4 Remove the skillet from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 30 minutes. 5 Shape the cooled flare material into a long, rectangular bar. Insert three matches -- wood-end first -- into one end of the flare. Push them in until the base of the match head is touching the material. 6 Wrap the flare in tissue paper and provide a 2-inch long paper end.

Twist the end of the paper and put the flare in a self-seal plastic bag. Community Q&A If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Tips If you want to add color to your flare you can add metallic salts such as magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) to make it white. Strontium Nitrate to make it red (this can be some-what hard to find.) Barium will burn a pale green. So will borax. Copper sulfate burns a green too. Potassium permanganate burns purple. Look online for some other colors. Warnings When you light the flare, keep it well away from the rest of your body. Or just lay it on the ground and leave. Things You'll Need Signal Flare Basics Every Crew Member Needs to Know Signal flares come in two basic designs; handheld and aerial. Hand Held Flares Hand held flares are tubular devices with a protective cap at one end which is removed to gain access to the ignition mechanism. Manufacturer instructions should be followed exactly when igniting the flare. Burn time is usually several minutes.

Aerial Flares The performance of aerial flares is measured by the altitude of the projectile, the brightness of the signal measured in candela or candela units (CU), and the burn time of the signal. Flares designed to be fired from a safety pistol come in two sizes 12 gauge and 25 MM. Both operate by placing a flare shell into the safety pistol breech, aiming, cocking the hammer of the pistol, and finally firing by pulling the trigger. Flares of the 12 gauge size reach a height of around 500 feet (152 M) and burn for five to ten seconds. The 25MM flares do not reach as high of an altitude as the 12 gauge types but burn with about twice the brightness of the smaller shells. continue reading below our video What to Do If Your Identity is Stolen These devices are becoming more common for their convenience and performance. Some are half the size of a handheld flare but exceed the performance of a 12 gauge pistol fired shell. These small flares can and should be tucked into one of the pockets of your floatation gear. Then there are the rockets.

During practice sessions these powerful signals are both intimidating and impressive to the uninitiated user. Safe deployment of these devices is essential because they can cause severe injury and damage if used incorrectly. The signal flare on some of these devices carries a parachute which allows the signal to be visible for 30-45 seconds. Altitudes of large rocket flares can be almost 3000 feet (~900 M). Gun Fired Self-Contained Practice Flares Practice flares have clear markings on the exterior. All practice flares are white, rather than red, while burning. Use these flares to familiarize yourself with deploying an emergency signal. Red flares which have expired are often used to train individuals who have not used flare signals. This should NOT be done with two exceptions; in the presence of a governing agency like the USCG or CCG , or when previous permission has been given by the governing agency. In both cases the person in charge of the training or demonstration should make a clear statement on the International Hailing and Distress VHF channel 16 which states the exact location, duration, type and number of signals to be fired for training. Use of Flares Always follow the instructions of the flare manufacturer exactly.

Serious injury or property damage can occur if these devices are used incorrectly. Always be sure there are no easily combustible materials nearby that could catch fire because of malfunction or human error. Hand Flare Safety While standing, ignite the flare and hold it away from your body at a 45 degree angle. Do not hold a burning flare overhead, it could drop sparks on your head! Once the flare burns out place the remains in a non-combustible container or soak with water to avoid accidental ignition of other materials. If you find yourself in the water ignite the flare while holding it away from your body. In this case it is essential to hold the flare as high out of the water as possible so it is visible to rescuers. Wave the signal from side to side over your head. Avoid looking at the flare while it is burning to avoid eye damage and to preserve night vision. Flares can ignite spilled fuel floating on the surface of the water. Gasoline is much more easily ignited than diesel fuel but care should be taken when lighting a hand flare if any type of fuel was spilled.

Safe Handling of Aerial Flares All aerial flares fire an inextinguishable projectile burning at approximately 3,000 Degrees F (1,600 Degrees C). The same rules that govern safe firearms use should be applied to aerial flares. To fire a shell from a safety pistol locate yourself away from overhead obstacles, load a flare shell into the pistol breech and close securely, hold the pistol overhead in the one o’clock position, cock the pistol hammer, turn your head away and pull the trigger. Turning your head away will protect your eyes in the unlikely event of a misfire. Do not load the pistol until ready to fire and never point the safety pistol at anyone. Do not fire a flare horizontally or into the water as it can skip off the surface and cause damage. Everything said about gun fired flares and safety applies to self-contained and rocket flares. These devices need to be fired in the exact manner indicated by the manufacturer. In general the device needs to be held securely away from the body with one hand while the other hand launches the projectile with a trigger or pull cord. Take care when practicing with parachute flares because they are designed to burn until they hit the water.

If a breeze aloft can possibly carry the parachute over land it is imperative to cancel or delay the demonstration. Many buildings have caught fire from flares landing on roofs while they are still burning. Gun Fired Flares Self-Contained Aerial Flares and Rockets Flares on Commercial Vessels The number and type of flares carried on board is dependent on several factors. First is the area of operation. Offshore vessels use SOLAS approved devices, coastal or inland craft generally carry a smaller flare kit. Classification Societies can sometimes specify what types of safety gear are on board, this includes pyrotechnic signals. Individual rules from ship owners, masters, insurance companies, and local law enforcement can increase the number and type of signals a ship stocks. SOLAS Published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO); SOLAS stands for Safety of Life at Sea. SOLAS governs many aspects of safety including signal flares. Most commercial vessels and offshore recreational vessels adhere to SOLAS signal guidelines which are mainly designed for operations more than 50 miles (80 KM) from shore. SOLAS approved signals are required to meet standards for visibility and safety.

COLREG Also published by the International Maritime Organization; the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 ( COLREGS ) describes the use of signal flares. A "rocket parachute flare or a hand flare showing a red light"..."indicates distress and need of assistance" at sea is one type of maritime distress signals. "The use or exhibition of any of the foregoing signals [as a hand flare showing a red light or rockets or shells, throwing red stars] except for the purpose of indicating distress and need of assistance and the use of other signals which may be confused with any of the above signals is prohibited." Storage of Flares Flares are stored at the discretion of the master of the vessel. In general, flares and other pyrotechnic signals are to be stored in a waterproof container in an accessible location. The container should be closed with a latch which cannot be locked. The container needs to be checked regularly for moisture. Expiration Dates of Flares All flares have an expiration date printed clearly on the outside of each device. Expired flares cannot be disposed of in the trash as they are hazardous waste.

Properly dispose of expired flares at a hazardous waste facility or follow disposal instructions from the manufacturer or your safety equipment contractor. In the eyes of governing agencies like the USCG an expired flare is the same as no flare at all. Commercial vessels are inspected frequently enough that expiring flares will be noticed and replaced well ahead of their end of service date. Equipment logs must always include expiration dates of all pyrotechnic signals on board a vessel. History of Flares It is known through historic depictions that Vikings and Polynesian voyagers used fire signals to communicate while at sea. In the 1870’s the wife of a deceased naval scientist patented and further developed an elaborate scheme to communicate with variously colored flares. Martha Coston’s patent was eventually purchased and used by the US Navy.

Question: What colour would a magnesium flare burn with
Answer: White